Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) chief Wang Yu-chi said Wednesday that the procedures allowing local students studying in the island’s universities will be eased very soon.

Wang spoke to reporters during a visit to the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial House in Rua de Silva Mendes as he concluded his two-day visit to Macau, saying that the Taiwan authorities agreed with the demands of students from Macau studying in Taiwan to simplify the procedures that need to be followed to leave the island.

“My understanding is that the Ministry of Education has agreed to the students’ appeals, but there are still some legal and technical issues that need to be taken care of. I believe that the students’ requests on this issue will be realised very soon,” Wang was quoted by The Macau Post Daily as saying.

He did not reveal the exact date, only saying it may happen before the end of the year.

University students from Hong Kong and Macau studying in Taiwan must first submit a letter from their parents or guardians to the department head of their university who will then issue a permit to give them the green light to leave if they want to return home. The students then need to get the home-return permit stamped at the island’s immigration officials for NT$600 (160 patacas) before they are able to leave Taiwan.

A group of local students launched a campaign last year to simplify the process so that they can return home anytime.

“There are some administrative procedures that the Ministry of Education has to deal with, so I believe it won’t take long,” Wang continued. “We will do our best to speed it up.”

Reflecting on his meeting with Chief Executive Chui Sai On on Tuesday, Wang said it was positive as they addressed each other by their official titles.

Wang and his entourage returned to Taiwan Wednesday.

Wang was the first MAC chief to meet a Macau chief executive.

Reportedly, there are some 4,500 students from Macau enrolled in tertiary education institutions in Taiwan. (macaunews)